GOD WILL TAKE CAREOF YOU

          I have often experienced God's care throughout my life.  Three back surgeries, five heart by-passes, difficult decisions, etc.  And God has always been there.   But recently there have been new ones and once again, God is there.  I have unexpectedly become bound to a wheel chair with little hope of improving.  It has been a very hard change for me ... unlike any other I have ever had.  But God has been faithful even though I am dismayed and frustrated.

          During my third hospital stay it was determined that I needed a skilled care facility.  But there was only one which had an open bed.  So, reluctantly I was shipped to this home in Neffsville.  That was the worst experience of my life. The conditions were terrible.  Service was nonexistent.  Nurses were rude.  They would not give me my necessary bowel medicine.  They let me lie in my resulting bowels for over two hours.  Then they made fun of me. It was terrible.  I wanted to escape but I was their prisoner.

          But God did not forget me. He performed a miracle and suddenly I unexpectedly qualified for a bed at the Moravian Home.  I spent three weeks there.  What a difference!

          God again took care of me and delivered me from this "prison".   He will do the same for you.  Trust Him.

Be not dismayed whate'er betide

God will take care of you

Beneath His wings of love abide

God will take care of you

God will take care of you

Through every day, o'er all the way

He will take care of you

God will take care of you

No matter what may be the test

God will take care of you

Lean, weary one, upon His breast

God will take care of you

God will take care of you

Through every day, o'er all the way

He will take care of you

God will take care of you

He will take care of you

God will take care of you 

SAVIOR LEAD ME LEST I STRAY

          Following last week's challenge to live our lives by trusting and obeying the Lord in our daily walk with Him, I am sharing an old hymn which acknowledges that sometimes we might stray.  We need the Lord to lead us every day and all the way.

          Frank Marion Davis (1839-1896) was the one who shared this truth in this week's hymn choice.  Born in Marcellus, NY, he became a teacher and professor of voice, a choirmaster and a soloist.  He traveled extensively and compiled and published several song books.  He never married.

          This hymn asks the Lord to lead us in His righteousness so that we shall not stray away from it.  It was first published in the 1882 book Carols of Joy. Some of his compilations include Notes of Praise, Brightest Glory, and in 1877 New Pearls of Song.

           He also wrote music for Eden R. Latta's "Live For Jesus" and Mary Ann Kidder's "Is My Name Written There." Also, his songs, "O Rock In The Desert" and "Some Day We Shall Be Satisfied," appeared in the Christian Hymns books published by Gospel Advocate and his "Gliding Away" was in some older books.

          This song is a request for the Lord to lead us. "I am safe when by Thy side, I would in Thy love abide."  We need to be led because, like sheep, we are always in danger of straying if we do not have someone to lead us: (1 Pet. 2.25)  Jesus has a way in which He wants us to go, and it is  a strait and narrow way, so we need His leadership to follow it: (Matt. 7.13-14).  But in order for Him to be able to lead us, we must abide in Him and His love: (Jn. 15.4-70).

         Stanza 2 asks the Lord to lead us in safety.  "Thou the refuge of my soul, When life's stormy billows roll;  I am safe when Thou art nigh, All my hopes on Thee rely.".  The Lord is the only true refuge for our souls to protect us when the storms of life come raging: (Ps. 46.1).  Therefore, we can be assured that we will be safe when He is nigh to us and we are nigh to Him: (Ps. 12.1-5).  Because Christ came to bring us this refuge from God that we might be protected, all our hopes on Him rely: (Heb. 6.18-20)

         Stanza 3 asks the Lord to lead us until the storm of life is past.  "Savior, lead me, then at last, When the storm of life is past "To the land of endless day, Where all tears are wiped away."  At last refers to the time of death, which is an appointment for all men to keep: (Heb. 9.27).  Our prayer should be that even in death the Lord will lead us to the land of endless day where we shall have everlasting life: (Matt. 25.35 & 46, Mk. 10.30).  And if we have followed Him faithfully in this life, we can have the confidence that we shall be with Him where all tears are wiped away: (Rev. 21.1-4)

          The chorus repeats the request that the Lord would lead us all the way.  "Lead me, lead me, Savior, lead me, lest I stray;
Gently down the stream of time, Lead me, Savior, all the way."  Remember that the way is not in ourself (Jer. 10.23). I cannot put my trust in worldly wisdom or human philosophy for salvation (1 Cor. 1.21, Col. 2.8). If I want to please God here and have an eternal home with Him, I must daily look to Him and ask, "Savior, Lead Me Lest I Stray."

 1.   Savior, lead me lest I stray

Gently lead me all the way;

I am safe when by Thy side,

I would in Thy love abide.

Refrain:

Lead me, lead me, Savior, 

lead me, lest I stray;

Gently down the stream of time,

Lead me, Savior, all the way.

2   Thou the refuge of my soul,

When life's stormy billows roll;

I am safe when by Thy side,

All my hopes on Thee rely. [Refrain]

3   Savior, lead me, then at last,

When the storm of life is past;

To the land of endless day,

Where all tears are wiped away. [Refrain]

 Listen to it here.  LEAD

 

Mothers Favorite

        The last few months have been times of challenge for my wife and I.  There have been days of illness and hospitalizations … days of discouragement, loneliness and depression.  But there have also been days of growing in faith.  I admit that I often miss long gone friends and I really miss my parents. It was blest to have parents who loved the Lord and brought me up to serve the Lord.  They also taught me to love the hymns and they were always part of our family worship.

          I often think I can still hear my mother and her beautiful soprano voice sharing her testimony and love through hymns.  Her favorite was “In The Garden”.  I often picture her taking quiet walks and talks with the Lord through the beautiful gardens of heaven.

1 I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

2 He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing. [Refrain]

 

3 I'd stay in the garden with Him
Tho' the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling. [Refrain)

TRUST AND OBEY

         Many people begin a new year by setting personal goals for the coming months.  These might be financial goals, health goals, family goals, work goals, relationship goals, personal growth goals, religious goals, etc.
          As I thought about this, I began to realize that many of the hymns that I have shared here would make great goals.  And so, as we begin a new year with this blog, I have decided to choose an old, familiar hymn, that I have shared before, as a possible goal for my readers and for myself.
          Every Friday and Saturday night our local Christian radio station plays hymns throughout the night. I really enjoy this special time, especially when I am having trouble sleeping. Recently, early in the morning I heard them play this week's hymn.nIt  immediately brought back to my mind many baptismal services which I've attended over the years. This used to be a traditional hymn sung as we watched new believers publicly testify of their death to sin and their new life in Christ. And their key to living their new life was trusting and obeying their Lord. 
          These two words are so simple but often so hard to put into practice. So often we trust our own decisions and our own ways, especially when things are going well for us. And as humans we often resist obeying. We want our own ways. We want to decide how we use our time and money and possessions. And so, we may miss the full joy that the Lord wants us to experience in our Christian walk. 
          There is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Trusting is not complete without obedience.
           In 1886, Daniel Towner, was leading the music during one of Moody's preaching campaigns in Massachusetts. During the service a young man stood up to give a testimony. "I am not quite sure -- but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey."  Towner jotted down the words and sent them to his friend, John Sammis, who was a Presbyterian pastor. Sammis, using the words of this short testimony, wrote the hymn we know as "Trust and Obey." 
          As he wrote the hymn he considered the different areas of our life that we need to trust God about: Verse one - our daily walk in life; Verse two - during the difficult times in life; Verse three - our total submission; Verse four - following God's call for our life. 5
          What a challenge for 2025 – Trust God for every aspect of our life – Obey God in every aspect of our life.  And that is our challenge for the coming year. 

(1) When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(2) Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(3) Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(4) But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(5) Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

Listen to this hymn here.  LISTEN

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

This is a feature where once each month

 I share one of my personal favorite hymns

 

          For months I have been starting my hymn blogs for the month with my personal favorite hymns.  But this month I want to start the new year with my very favorite, even though I have shared it previously. It is my personal testimony.

          I also have chosen this because it is a great hymn of worship for a new year.  Join me and making this the theme of our worship during the months ahead.  Sing it each day as we thank and praise the Lord for all of His blessings.

         "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."  (Lamentations 3:22-23). This hymn is my very favorite because I have found it so very true throughout my life.  God, my Father, has never failed me.  He has kept all of His promises.  He never changes even though things all around us change.  He has provided all that I need.  

          And there are examples of His faithfulness all around us.  The four seasons, the universe and all of nature remind us of that.  But I especially love the truth of the blessings shared in the third verse - pardon for sin, a peace that endureth, His presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and a blessed hope for tomorrow.  And there are so many other blessings beside.  I are so blest! 
          The author of this great hymn, Thomas Chisholm, was born in 1866 in the state of Kentucky. While he wrote over 1200 hymns, the one we remember the most is this one.  Chisholm did not write it because something great and miraculous had taken place in his life. No, he wrote it because over his entire life he had learned to see the greatness of God.  At the age of 75, he wrote: "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me man y wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."  

          The tune for this great hymn was composed by William M. Runyan (1870-1957). Popular gospel singer and songwriter Beverly Shea first introduced this hymn to audiences in Great Britain in the Billy Graham Crusades in 1954.  It has been a favorite of believers since then.  

          Hopefully. if you are a believer, this hymn is also your personal testimony.  May you experience each day His mercies and His provision. Then, you too can proclaim - great is His faithfulness! As it was in the past, so it will be in 2025 and beyond! Thank you Lord!

 

(1) Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

(2)  Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

(3) Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!     

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

You can hear it here now.   LISTEN

JUST AS I AM

          Growing up this song was probably the invitation hymn that I remember the most.  It was sung at revival services, camp meetings and youth rallies.  But it was also used by Billy Graham at his major crusades around the world.  It was common to see multitudes of seekers leaving their seats to respond to the call to accept Christ while a crusade choir sang this song.           

          This very familiar hymn has a beautiful story attached to it.  200 years ago, Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) was a gifted artist and writer living in England. A serious illnesse. however, affected her feet, and she became crippled and depressed, spending the following decades feeling useless to anyone and wrestling with her pain and despondency.               

          Sometime later, a pastor friend from Switzerland paid her visit to encourage her. She dismissed him, then later felt guilty about it. Deciding she needed to get her personal relationship with Christ in order, she went to apologize to the pastor. She confessed that she wanted to get herself right with God, but had too many barriers between her and the Lord and she had to clean up her life first. The pastor replied, "just come as you are." Those words remained with her, and more than a decade later, the advice that had allowed her to come to the Lord as she was, were penned in a simple but powerful hymn about trusting Jesus and His redemptive work. It has inspired many people to repent and believe in the Gospel.

          Though weak and feeble in body, Elliott possessed a strong imagination, and a well-cultured and intellectual mind. Her love of poetry and music was great, and is reflected in her verse. Her hymns number about 150, a large percentage of which are in common use. Her verse is characterized by tenderness of feeling, plaintive simplicity, deep devotion, and perfect rhythm. For those in sickness and sorrow she has sung as few others have done. From her earliest years, through weakness and ill-health she was precluded from sharing in the many activities of life; and yet, although free rarely from pain, she was ever bright and cheerful, for Charlotte Elliot had come to realize that the quiet of her sick-room was to be her own special sphere of labor. And from this obscure place, away from the glare of publicity, there went forth songful messages, which found a place in the hearts of multitudes all over the world.
            Written when Miss Elliot was 45 years old, this hymn has been translated into almost every European language, and is found in practically every collection of Christian hymns. So many wonderful stories have been woven around the birth of this hymn that is this refreshing to learn the true story of how "Just as I am" came into being. The story is told by the late Dr. Moule, Bishop of Durham whose wife was a close relative of Miss Elliot. "Charlotte Elliott was living in Brighton with a married brother, a clergyman, the Reverend Henry Van Elliot. The whole family had gone off to a bazaar in which they were greatly interested; and the frail invalid had been left at home alone, lying on the sofa, with her heart a little sad being, as usual, shut out from all the good works. For her own comfort she began to ponder on the grand certainties of salvation—her Lord, his power and his promises. Then came a sudden feeling of peace and contentment, and taking her pen, she wrote the beautiful verses of 'Just as I am.' Surely, they were God-given—a precious and priceless gift indeed— from her Heavenly Father to His chastened and much loved child. As the day wore on, her sister-in-law, Mrs. H. V. Elliot, came in to see her and bring news of the bazaar. She read the hymn and asked for a copy. So. the hymn first stole out from that quiet room into the world, where since that day it has been sowing and reaping till a multitude which only God can number have been blessed through its message. "
          It is said that after Miss Elliot's death, a locked box, discovered from among her belongings, when opened, was found to contain over 1, 000 letters which Charlotte had received from grateful writers to whom her hymn, "Just as I am," had been a blessing. Charlotte Elliot lived to the advanced age of 82, and died at Brighton on the evening of September 22, 1871. 
          In conclusion, remember the message that that Jesus will accept us just as we are.  We need to do nothing but come to Jesus just as you are.
          

Just as I am, without one plea, 

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

2

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot;

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

3

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt;

Fightings within, and fears without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

4

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind;

Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

5

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

6

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Has broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

 

Listen to it here.   JUST AS

 

challenges ahead